By: Ingenio Leales
Located in the department of Leales, province of Tucumán, Ingenio Leales is one of the main sugar, alcohol and biofuel production units in northern Argentina.
Over the years it has consolidated a management model based on operational efficiency, innovation and sustainable growth through practices that reduce environmental impact and promote the well-being of nearby communities.
Integrated water management: an environmental priority
Water plays a central role in industrial processes. As a vital and limited resource, its responsible use is essential to ensure its long-term availability.
Located in a depressed plain of the province, outside the reach of the Salí-Dulce basin, Ingenio Leales relies exclusively on water extracted from five active deep wells. This geographical condition prompted the implementation of a strategic investment plan with a clear objective: to maximize the use and reuse of water at each stage of the production process.
Water reused in our processes
Throughout these years, Ingenio Leales has undergone a sustained transformation process that has allowed us to reduce water consumption from natural sources by 68%. In 2010, 3.51 m³ of water was used per ton of sugarcane milled, while in the 2024 harvest that figure dropped to 1.12 m³. Projections for the coming seasons anticipate an estimated consumption of only 0.80 m³/Tn.
This progress was possible thanks to the incorporation of state-of-the-art technologies, such as cooling towers and closed circuits for water recirculation in different sectors of the mill.
- Sugar production: 14 cooling towers were installed to recirculate 2,500 m³/h of water in the barometric condensers, which are essential for the evaporation and cooking processes in the factory and refinery.
- Alcohol production: cooling circuits composed of 7 cooling towers were implemented, allowing the reuse of 1200 m³/h, ensuring temperature control in the different physical and biological processes involved.
- Energy generation: The mill generates energy from biomass (bagasse). Combustion in boilers produces gases and ash that must be treated by wet cleaning systems. To reduce the use of water in this process, a recirculation and sedimentation system with two settling basins was implemented, allowing 400 m³/h of water to be reused efficiently.
- Effluent management: Wastewater is classified and conditioned according to its composition. Clear water, suitable for dumping, is treated in a refrigeration plant before being discharged into public waterways, while water with organic matter is reused to irrigate the company’s own farms.
Projections for the next campaigns include the incorporation of a new distillation module with recirculation technology, wastewater treatment for industrial reuse and new closed circuits for washing water treatment.
Responsible production with positive impact
At Ingenio Leales, for an average milling of 8,500 tons of cane per day, 7,370 m³/h of water is currently reused, with a replacement of 396 m³/h of water from natural sources. This means that only 5.1% of the volume of water that would be required without recirculation systems is consumed, demonstrating a clear commitment to sustainability and environmental preservation.
Every decision related to water management at Ingenio Leales responds to a long-term vision: to take care of this vital resource not only to sustain the continuity of industrial activity, but also to ensure its availability for future generations. This comprehensive approach extends to the social sphere, since the mill’s supply wells also provide drinking water to forty families in the neighboring community, thus consolidating responsible management at both the environmental and community levels.